Mike Edwards’ return to MASH

By Caitlin Quattrocchi

The Torch

      On Monday January 31, MASH was honored to welcome back Mike Edwards, class of 1995.  Mike was joined by his parents and his former coaches Mr. Shirley, Mr. Lichtel and Mr. Kinney.

     Mike was an outstanding three-sport athlete at Mechanicsburg.  During Mike’s senior season he was the quarterback for the Wildcats, qualifying for Districts and setting several records including Most Single Season Yardage 2,287, Most Single Season Touchdowns-20, Most Single Season Completions-152 and the Most Single Season Completion Percentage Record with 66%.  

     During his senior Basketball season, Mike led the team to the District III AAA Championship and to the PIAA Eastern State Semi-Final Game.  He currently holds the scoring record with 1,233 points and is first in assists with 380.  Mike was also named to the All-State Basketball Team his senior year.

     Although Mike could have played football or basketball in college, he wanted to fulfill his dream of becoming a major league baseball player.  Mike’s career batting average at MASH was .424.  He had 108 hits, and 8 homeruns.

     He was named to the Mid Penn All-Star Team all four years, Patriot-News Big 11, 1st team his junior and senior year and was selected as the Patriot-News Travers Scholarship Athlete Award his senior year. 

     In June 1995, Mike was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 9th round.  He has played in the minor leagues for nine years and has a .297 batting average. 

     Mike waited eight years and 3,114 at-bats before his first major league appearance with the Oakland A’s in 2003. 

     Mike has recently signed with the Dodgers and will start training camp in March. 

     Mike still returns to Mash to workout and help out when he can with Coach Shirley and the baseball team.  Coach Shirley presented  Mike with a frame of his Number 7 jersey, which will hang in the gym lobby along with Number 16 of Shawn Abner.